Learning the Art of Bonsai: Glossary for Flooring Terms

Jun 4

Like any other industry, the flooring industry has a lot of lingo going on. It is pretty easy to get confused during any stage of the flooring installation and maintenance processes. As such, we have created a glossary for you to refer to throughout your flooring journey, so that you can stay in the know, be able to find the right words for your questions, and understand what makes a flooring option better suited for you rather than others.

A - D | E - H | I - L | M - P | Q - T | U - X | Y -Z - # |

A

Abrasion Resistance

The quality of a floor that can resist normal wear-and-tear brought by friction. Abrasion resistance is akin to toughness, as it refers to how strong a material can be rather than how hard it is.

Acclimation

The process flooring materials undergo when adjusting to a new environment, usually for a new installation. When a new floor is being installed, acclimating the product is crucial, as the floor can become accustomed to the average temperature, humidity, and other environmental influences, which prevents issues like sudden expansion or contractions during and after the installation process. The more the floor acclimates to the new area, as according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the more successful the installation will be in the long run.

Acoustical Cork

A type of underlayment material for planked flooring. The cork is directly attached to the bottom of each plank—usually by the manufacturer—which means an additional underlayment will not need to be laid out and installed prior to the plank installation.

Acoustical cork is used to reduce noise between the floor and subfloor by absorbing the sound directly. Typically, acoustical cork is used in upper levels of a home, bedrooms, or an apartment, where noise like footsteps or children’s play time can easily travel through the floor and move into other rooms. Cork layers also provide cushioning as an underlayment, meaning the floor’s lifespan can increase due to an extra layer of protection on the underside.

Acoustical Cushion

Acoustical cushioning works similar to acoustical cork, where the cushioning is attached directly to the underside of the flooring planks. These are typically pre-attached to the boards, so an additional underlayment installation may not always be required.

Typically, acoustical cushioning is made from other non-sustainable or less-sustainable products compared to cork. The cushioning is made of foam materials, such as polyethylene, rubber, felt, and more, thus making the underlayment an actual foam cushioning rather than a layer. Regardless, the cushioning behaves the same way as acoustical cork, where the foam absorbs sound and reduces or prevents the noise from traveling through the floor. Cushioning will also prolong the lifespan of the floor and works well in upper-levels of a home, bedroom, or an apartment.

Air Dried

Usually stain that is dried without the use of additional heat, such as a kiln or furnace, and is usually done within the home of the flooring installation.

Aluminum Oxide

Aluminum oxide is a ceramic material used as a finish, which increases the durability of the floor, as well as improve the scratch-resistance.

When Aluminum oxide is used on LVP flooring, the LVP plank is placed in a hot press machine and a coating of aluminum oxide is melted and fused to the surface layer of the plank. As a result of the heat press, the surface is strengthened, thus making it more durable and scratch-resistant.

Angle / Angle

“Angle / Angle” is the full term describing one of the locking mechanisms used for flooring. When looking at a plank with an angle / angle locking mechanism, there is long and short side of each plank. During installation, two planks are angled and clicked together—the long side of one and the short side of another—and creates a tight and secure fit between the two

Antimicrobial

A flooring, usually referring to the LVP manufacturing process, that has prosperities that inhibit the growth and spread of numerous microorganism. Bacteria, mold, and mildew are less likely to grow and formulate colonies on the surface of your floor, though regular maintenance is still necessary to maintain a clean and sanitary environment. The Antimicrobial layer simply works as another layer of protection from harmful microorganisms, not the perfect defense against grim.

Annual Grow Ring

The ring that forms on a tree during a year or a growing season. The older the tree, the more rings you will see when taking a cross section of the tree or a portion of the tree.

Asphalt Saturated Felt Paper

A type of underlayment used for stapled-down flooring, usually hardwood or bamboo floors, that provides additional protection to the subfloor and the installed flooring. The underlayment makes the installation go smoother, as it helps provide a smoother surface for the planks to lay upon. Furthermore, the underlayment can behave as a vapor retarder, or previously known as a vapor barrier, providing some protection from moisture affecting the flooring from the subfloor.

American Society of Testing and Materials (ATSM)

An organization built from professionals from around the world to create a standardized practice for materials, products, and services—including a services’ function. The ATSM does not have a governing role where they can enforce specific regulations on various industries, but since their practices have been tested by numerous professionals from differing backgrounds and national identities, their regulations have become standard in multiple industries, such as the flooring industry. The ATSM is not limited to flooring but is involved with a majority of industries where materials are involved.

ASTM F1869

ASTM F1869—also known as the Calcium Chloride Moisture Test—is a test used on concrete subfloors to ensure the subfloor itself is suitable for a flooring installation. The test measures the Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER) of the concrete subfloor or other similar types of subflooring.

To preform the test, installers place a small dish or container containing calcium chloride crystals on the surface of the concrete and cover the container with a sealed dome. After allowing the pressure to balance within the dome, the sealing dome is removed, and the installer can now measure how much moisture the container gathered. The moisture absorbed by the calcium chloride is expressed in terms of pounds of moisture per 1,000 square feet (of the surface area) per 24 hours. (That is a lot! Know the installers have to do a little bit of math to get a specific number that they can better understand the quality of the subfloor.) The MVER itself is calculated by the weight of the container and the surface area of the testing area, alongside the moisture measurement.

ASTM F1869 tests are only one indicator of the condition of the subfloor. Relative humidity and temperature can still affect the subfloor, as well as the materials going to be installed over the subfloor, so it is important to take into consideration of other tests alongside the ATSM F1869 to ensure the subfloor is ready and suitable for an installation.

ASTM F2170

ASTM F2170 is another type of test used on subfloors to ensure the subfloor is suitable for a flooring installation. Unlike the ASTM F1869 test, this test checks the moisture content inside the concrete slab—the humidity test

To preform the test, installers drill a hole into the subfloor and insert a probe to a specific depth in the hole. The probe is then left for a time to allow the pressure to balance between the new hole and normal levels. After the time has passed, the probe is pulled out, and the moisture content is then measured with another device.

Note that this test only captures a sample of the subfloor area. Other environmental factors such as temperature and humidity may has influence the results taken at different points of the entire concrete subfloor, and the slab itself may produce differing results and different locations simply due to the nature of concrete.

B

Base Shoe

A type of molding that attaches to the baseboard to cover the expansion space of a planked flooring.

Beveled Edge

A rounded edge on planked flooring, naturally found with some hardwood planks. Some LVP manufactures also provide a beveled edge with their products to help make the floor look and feel more realistic to the natural hardwood counterpart.

Board Foot

A unit of measurement in the lumber industry, where a wood plank is 1 foot long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick—the ideal board (Industry standard has divided the measurement by foot and inches, as it serves a purpose for the nominal size versus true size). Due to the nature of wood itself, there are variations within measurements, which therefore means a board may be rounded to the nearest number based on industry determined practices. If the wood is actually slightly thicker than 1 inch and is slightly different in width, the board will go by its normal measurements—the 1 foot by 12 inches by 1 inch. The same idea applies if the wood is slightly thinner than 1 inch. This is why 2x4 boards are called 2x4s, despite the actual boards being closer to 1.5x3.5 inches in thickness and width.

Borders

A design that goes along the edges of a floor, usually to create a frame within the space on the floor itself. View examples here.

Burl

A swirl or twist in the grain of wood that does not contain a knot. Burls typically appear where limbs of a tree branch away from the base.

C

Calcium Chloride Moisture Test

The Calcium Chloride Moisture Test—also known as the ASTM F1869—is a test used on concrete subfloors to ensure the subfloor itself is suitable for a flooring installation. The test measures the Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER) of the concrete subfloor or other similar types of subflooring.

Ceramic Bead

Ceramic beads are a type of additive material used to strengthen the upper floor surface, usually in LVP. The ceramic beads act as a physical barrier to the rest of the floor and also serves as a layer of protection against normal wear and tear, thus making the surface harder and more durable. Furthermore, the beads also provide a texture to the surface that also improves slip-resistance and scratch-resistance. Because the floor is strengthened and therefore more durable, the floors will consequentially have a longer lifespan.

Chatter Marks

Repetitive indents and imperfections, creating a ripple affect, in hardwood flooring caused by machine misuse. If the wrong pressure is applied when sanding, the installer uses bad sandpaper, or if the drum sander has misaligned wheels, chatter marks appear.

Cleat

A type of barbed nail used to fasten hardwood flooring. They are especially useful when boards have a tongue-and-groove mechanism, as the cleat can be used like a staple without risking the wood itself cracking or splitting. Furthermore, compared to staples, cleats allow hardwood to have enough space between the subfloor and the actual board, allowing the plank to expand or contract without the restriction staples can cause.

Click Lock / Floating

Click Lock / Floating flooring is a type of LVP flooring installation method. The planks themselves are not directly attached to the subfloor, thus naming the floor “floating”. Special tools or adhesives are not required for floating floors, since they click together with ease and do not required to be adhered to the floor itself. However, because they are not directly adhered to the floor in one way or another, floating floors are not a great solution for long-term use, as nothing except their interlocking mechanisms are holding the planks together.

Compression Set

Compression set occurs when a hardwood board absorbs too much moisture and expand too much that the wood cells along the edges of the board are crushed. When the floor goes back to normal and is no longer holding onto the excess moisture, the broken cells cause bigger cracks to form in the rest of the board. Learn more about the importance of moisture and planked flooring here.

Conifers

The types of trees that bear cones and are likely to have needle-like leaves. Conifers typically build what is known as softwood and can produce other materials like resin.

D

Delamination

In engineered hardwood floors, delamination refers to the separation of the individual layers of planks. This may be caused by poor bonding during the manufacturing stage, moisture issues after installation, mechanical stress caused by other environmental factors or improper installation, air or water trapped underneath boards, or issues with the adhesive connecting the floor to the subfloor.

Dimensional Stability

The ability for planked flooring to remain the same dimensions as when they were installed over time or as a reaction to environmental influences, such as an uptake in moisture. Hardwood, for instance, may not be as dimensionally stabile compared to other options due to the fact that wood can be hydrated or dehydrated and therefore grow or shrink. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, has other materials that improve the overall dimensional stability, as other materials can handle other elements like water better than the natural wood components.

Drop / Lock

Drop / Lock is a type of locking mechanism for LVP floors. The locking system consists of four different connecting elements, where there is a click profile, a locking profile, a drop-lock profile, and a tongue and groove profile—all simultaneously working together. As such, the drop / lock mechanism provides a tight and secure locking system, resulting in a highly stable floor.

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E

Embossed in Register (EIR) Embossing

A common type of surface texturing process used in laminate, LVP, and some engineered hardwood flooring options.

Laminate and LVP specifically do not have an upper surface layer of wood, meaning there is not a wood texture—or a texture at all—naturally occurring. However, processes like the EIR Embossing process, allows flooring to have realistic wood texture imprinted on the surface. Physically, the flooring will feel more like its natural counterparts and be more slip-resistant with the introduced texture. Aesthetically, the floor will appear more authentic instead of giving a plastic feel.

“In Register” refers to the technique used for the embossing. A 3D texture model is aligned with the printed pattern on the surface, which helps the overall natural appearance. The floor is embossed where there should be grooves and texture based on the appearance. If the product is randomly embossed without consideration of the printed texture, the floor look and feel off when installed, thus cheapening the overall experience of having laminate and LVP installed in the first place.

End Cap

End Caps are a type of molding that is used to finish the edge of flooring. Usually, you can find end caps wherever the floor itself meets the wall or another immovable object like a fireplace. The end cap protects the floor from damage, while also completing the look for the installation.

End Joint

The place where two planked floorings are joined together, end-to-end.

End Lifting

In engineered flooring, when environmental influences are causing a negative impact, the end joint area between two boards can start to swell.

Engineered

A process where veneer or lumber is bonded together, usually with an adhesive. Each layer is perpendicular to one other, which increases dimensional stability—hence why engineered hardwood is more dimensionally stable than natural hardwood. Laminate is also an engineered wood, with the only major difference is laminate uses veneers rather than lumber for a large chunk of its layers—at the least, the upmost surface.

Enhanced UV Polyurethane

A type of clear and protective finish. This type of finish is well known for and recommended for cases where resistance to wear, scratches, and stains is a priority.

Ultraviolet light is used to quickly harden and set the polyurethane coating, thus giving the finish its name. Because of the light-curing process, each plank is strengthened and more resistant to normal wear-and-tear. Enhanced UV Polyurethane is used on LVP planks and is completed during the manufacturing process.

Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)

The point where wood does not gain or lose moisture through the relative humidity and temperature of the area. EMC is optimal in preventing planks from swelling or shrinking.

EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) Pad

A type of foam padding underlayment that is normally attached to LVP planks. Like other paddings, EVA pads provides excellent cushioning when being walked upon, as well as improve noise reduction. The product is made of various types of foams, and usually, EVA is the primary foam used for this specific underlayment. Furthermore, EVA pads are resistant to moisture and mold and hold their shape well instead of flattening soon after installation, thus making the underlayment a strong option for naturally moist areas or high traffic areas in a home or commercial space, such as a bathroom or kitchen.

Expansion Space

When installing any type of flooring, there is usually an expansion space, which refers to the gap left between the edge of the floor and surrounding fixed objects, such as a wall. Most flooring installs need an expansion gap due to environmental changes such as temperature and humidity. For instance, hardwood floors will either absorb water or become dehydrated due to the natural qualities of wood, which causes individual planks to either expand or contract with the fluctuations of humidity. The same concept applies to engineered wood and LVP for similar reasons. Read more about humidity in our blog post here.

Without enough expansion space—both during and post the installation period—planked flooring may buckle, warp, or crack, as well as create massive gaps on their own. The expansion space must be maintained during the entire lifetime of the floor for this reason and not only during installation, simply because the planks will change size due to environmental changes.

F

Feature Strip

A strip of wood typically framing a room to serve as a visual contrast. Also known as borders, which can be viewed here.

Fiberglass Layer

In some LVP materials, there is a fiberglass layer added, usually in-between the vinyl layers, to enhance the stability of the floor and resistance to typical wear-and-tear. Furthermore, the stability the fiberglass layer provides allows individual planks less likely to shift in size due to environmental factors.

Fiber Saturation Point

The stage of either drying or wetting wooden planks where only the cell walls contain moisture. Everything else within the wood, in the cell cavities, are dry.

Fiberboard

A generic term referring to a type of board made of varying wooden or otherwise natural materials, with different densities, dimensions, and other unique characteristics, including moisture resistance, fire retardant, and more.

Filler

Natural hardwood will naturally have holes, gaps, or other imperfections in the wood. To prevent them from causing problems and for aestetic purposes, a filler is used to fill the gaps after sanding but before applying the finishing coats. Filler can be plastic wood, various types of wood putty, and sometimes even a sawdust combination left from sanding the floor.

Floating Floor

Flooring that is “floating” over the subfloor, where planks are not physically adhered to the subfloor and are instead typically held together by their locking mechanisms or adhesive between each plank.

G

Glue Down

A type of flooring installation where the installer lays down glue directly on top of the subfloor to install individual boards. This method of installation is highly stable and permanent, meaning the flooring itself can withstand high traffic and typical wear-and-tear due to its now unmoving nature. Depending on the adhesive used, the glue itself can enhance noise reduction and insulation.

Graininess

The objective appearance of grains stuck within a finish.

H

Hardness

The property of a species of tree or a finishing coat that enhances the floor’s ability to withstand dents or other marks.

Hardwood

Wood that comes from broadleaved trees, such as oak trees. Hardwood is not necessarily connected with the idea of hardness, though some species of hardwood are denser and therefore more durable than some species of softwood, such as pine trees.

Hardwood is also the colloquial term referring to natural wood floors.

Hygroscopic

Types of materials that can absorb and contain water, as well as expel and remove water. Wood

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I

International Building Code (IBC)

A building code developed by the International Code Council (ICC) that is used throughout the United States, which helps determine standardized building codes for safer structures.

IXPE (Irradiated Cross-Linked Polyethylene) Pad

A type of foam padding that provides extra cushioning and noise reduction, usually made from a combination of foams such as polyethylene. IXPE padding his a high-density foam, which aids in its added resistance to moisture, mold, and compression. As such, this type of high-density pad works best in moist or high traffic areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

J

Janka Hardness Test

A test where a small, less than half inch steel ball is imbedded halfway through its diameter into a plank of wood to determine how hard the wood species is by creating a digestible and measurable value labeled as pounds per square inch (lb/in^2). The value represents how durable the wood can be and its ability to withstand denting. For instance, white oak has a Janka rating of 1360 lb/in^2, which is slightly harder and therefore more durable and harder to work with compared to another wood such as Northern Red Oak—a Janka rating of 1290.

L

Lippage

A misalignment in a flooring, where a wood plank is slight raised above the adjacent floor board—the result being an uneven surface. Also known as overwood / underwood

Loose Lay

A type of LVP flooring installation where the floor is floating on top of the subfloor without attachment. Most loose lays have a unique, high-friction, backing layer that naturally bonds to the surface underneath and helps it stay in place; loose lay planks may also need to be installed next to one another as tightly as possible to provide additional force between each individual plank to prevent any shifting over time.

However, some manufactures still suggest and even require their loose lay products to be installed with an adhesive to further help movement over time, though the product itself may not always be as permanent as other pure glue-down or nailed in flooring options. For this type of adhesive loose lay, the process is similar during installation, where planks do not have to be clicked together. Instead, the force between each layer helps them stay in place.

Compared to other types of LVP flooring installation, loose lay is one of the quickest and easiest to install, thus making it DIY-friendly. If flooring needs to be switched out frequently or is a temporary floor, loose lay is also a wonderful option due to its non-permanence and relative ease to tear out when ready.

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M

Micro Bevel

Micro bevels are a type of edge used on planked flooring, typically LVP. The bevel is a few millimeters wide and is hardly noticeable from a distance, yet it enhances the visual appeal of the floor by adding a subtle detail often found naturally in hardwood floors. A small detailed addition can make a world of difference and allow the floor to feel more natural.

Mil (Wear Layer)

The mil layer is shorthand “mil thousandth of an inch” (Incredibly small unit of measurement!) and refers to the thickness of the topmost layer—the wear layer—of planked flooring, usually in LVP products. Simply put, the wear layer and mil thickness is a numerical representation of how durable and resistant the plank itself will be—the higher the mil number, the thicker the wear layer, the more durable and long-lasting the floor may be. The mil layer is something that should be taken into consideration, as the value itself is indicative of how resistant the floor may be to high traffic, water, and other environmental factors. However, durability is not the only factor that should be taken account into picking what floor is right for the space, as sometimes that isn’t necessary at all or something that can be viewed as less important in selecting the right floor.

MM (Millimeter)

Millimeters are a unit of measurement that comes from the metric system, and in the case of the flooring industry, millimeters are used to describe the overall thickness of a plank. Everything from the wear layer, the core, and the attached underlayment make up the MM thickness, while any additional padding underneath can be added onto the plank value to know the total height of the plank. Compared to other units of measurements such as centimeters or inches, millimeters make for a more digestible unit of measurement in terms of flooring board thickness because the value itself is significantly easier to visualize when dealing with something that can be extremely thin.

The thickness may not matter as much for some projects, but there are a couple of factors that can be important to take into consideration. Sometimes a floor height cannot exceed a certain threshold for a variety of reasons, such as baseboard installation; other times, a thicker board that will naturally be more robust will provide other benefits such as noise reduction and would be a better option.

Muratic Acid

A diluted acid that is used to neutralize the alkalinity of concrete subfloors, which brings the pH down closer to the neutral level of around 7.

N

Nominal Size

The colloquial known size of dimensions of wood, though the physical dimensions naturally vary from board to board. For instance, 2x4 planks are usually not actually 2 inches by 4 inches, but actually 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Nosing

A type of hardwood molding used on landings or stairs, where the nosing is milled to meet the board on the horizontal plane, rather the riser on the vertical plane.

O

Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

A material typically used as an underlayment or subfloor. OSB is typically installed with its long axis going across supports as a way to provide extra strength.

Overwood / Underwood

A misalignment in a flooring, where a wood plank is slight raised above the adjacent floor board—the result being an uneven surface. Also known as lippage.

P

Painted Bevel

A type of edge where the beveled edges of an LVP plank are painted with a high-quality paint that is different color than the rest of the plank, which ultimately adds another detail to create a realistic look. Doing so brings a contrasting element to the floor and each individual plank, and depending on the aesthetic and design a person is going for, a painted bevel may be a good option. Typically, someone would do this to highlight each plank, to make the planks feel longer than they actually are, and sometimes even make each plank feel more natural and realistic.

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Q

Quarter Saw

A log is first cut into quarters, or wedges. Each wedge is then cut so that the growth rings are perpendicular to the face of the board

R

Reducer

Reducers are used as a transition between two or more floors of differing heights. For instance, hardwood is naturally taller than carpet, so a reducer would be used between the two types of flooring to allow a smooth transition between the two using a gradual reduction in height from the hardwood down to the carpet.

RH (Relative Humidity)

Relative humidity is the amount of moisture that is in the air at a specific temperature, usually compared to the total amount of moisture the air can hold at a certain temperature. As according to the National Weather Service, “warm air can possess more water vapor than cold air, so with the same amount of absolute/specific humidity, air will have a higher relative humidity if the air is cooler, and a lower relative humidity if the air is warmer.” Essentially, the humidity we feel when we are in “humid” weather is the actual amount of moisture in the air, (absolute humidity), and is not determined by temperature. Relative humidity is the percent of moisture out of the absolute humidity value, which is why when it is hotter, relative humidity values are lower, and vice versa—there is more water capacity for hotter temperatures and less water capacity for lower temperatures, so the value would be bigger in terms of percent the lower the temperature.

When it comes to flooring, the RH is an important factor to considering during the period before, during, and after installation, especially if the subfloor is concrete. For most flooring products, the maximum HR is somewhere around 75%-80%—or that percentage of the air’s capacity to hold water is filled—so if the home’s RH is within the 75%-80% range, the installer should complete other moisture mitigation preparations before attempting to even install the floor, else the floor will fail. One such tests include the ASTM F2170 or better known as the Calcium Chloride Moisture Test.

Furthermore, after the installation, the humidity of the room should be around 30-50%, give or take, or else the floor will fail by warping, buckling, moving away from the subfloor, become a space for mold to grow, and more. As such, humidity is incredibly important during all stages of floor installation and for its lifetime.

For more information on humidity, visit our blog post here.

S

Softwood

The wood that comes from trees that bear cones and have needle-like leaves, better known as conifers. Softwoods are less dense, which makes them easier to shape and less likely to splinter compared to hardwood.

SPC (Stone Plastic Composite)

SPC is a type of LVP flooring option, where one of the layers—better known as the core of each plank—is made from a blend of stones, such as limestone powder, polyvinyl chloride, and other stabilizers. Because the floor has stone additives instead of other additives such as wood, each plank will likely be more durable and water resistant, since stone does not absorb water like wood additives do. However, that does make each plank significantly heavier and sometimes thicker, which may not be optimal for all homes. The robustness of SPCs also make it difficult for the planks to conform to any changes to the subfloor that naturally happen over time, which can thus make it more likely for SPCs to start to separate from one another and the subfloor in the future; routine maintenance and subfloor care can help prevent such issues from arising.

Square Edge

A type of edge where the edge itself is perpendicular to the surface, creating a 90 degree angle. There is no bevel, groove, or the slight appearance of a gap between the planks because of the straight edge, and for some personal design tastes, a continuous surface without any division between each plank may be preferable than other edges.

Substrate / Subfloor

The underlaid surface the flooring material is placed on top of, usually better known as the subfloor. The subfloor can be a made of various materials, such as concrete or plywood, and in some cases, tile or hardwood can also be the subfloor. In reality, the surface underneath the floor is the subfloor.

However, though in theory anything solid and is a walkable surface can be a subfloor, the layer must be clean, level, and dry. When installing, the floor must be as perfect as possible with the smallest margin of error to ensure the new floor does not fail or have problems down the road. If the floor is not properly prepared and level, flooring—usually planked floors—will start to warp, separate, and sometimes even break, which allows other environmental factors to negatively impact the floor AND the subfloor. As such, ensuring the subfloor is properly prepared is highly essential for the success of the floor.

T

T-Molding

A type of molding that is used to transition between two floors that are the same height. T-Moldings are often found in doorways or between rooms, allowing a seamless transition between two rooms.

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U

Underlayment

A layer of material that is installed underneath a selected floor, usually carpet or LVP. Different underlayment materials provide different benefits, such as extra cushioning when walking on top of the surface.

Unipush

A type of click-together LVP technology, where the locking system is made of a tongue or groove on the long and short sides of an individual plank, with one side of the same length as the other having the opposite part of the mechanism. (The right side of the plank has a tongue, while the left has a groove.) This locking system provides extra vertical stability, alongside the horizontal stability, of each individual plank.

Urethane

A type of coating finish that provides an extra protective layer to LVP planks. Not only do urethane finishes provide enhanced durability, but they also can provide a different glossy or matte finish, thus adding an aesthetic benefit to the coating.

V

Virgin Vinyl

Pure vinyl floors, typically seen with glue down and loose lay LVP flooring. With the rise in new LVP and LVP technologies, vinyl flooring has come a long way since they were first introduced to the flooring industry, meaning they are more durable, flexible, and water resistant than ever before. A pure, 100% vinyl composition will remain a safe feature for easy, durable, and stylish installation for a lifetime to come.

W

Wear Layer

The wear layer is the topmost layer of an LVP plank—the layer you feel once the floor is installed—and serves as the surface protective layer from normal use. Usually, the wear layer is transparent to allow the printed or design layer of the plank to shine through.

Wear layer is measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch, and depending on the manufacturer and the product itself, the wear layer typically ranges from 4 mil to 30 mil, with the higher the value the thicker and (usually) more durable the plank will be. Naturally, the wear layer does impact the overall thickness of the floor, but usually not by much in the grand scheme of the installation.

Lower wear layers perform wonderful in areas with light foot traffic or if the subfloor has some imperfections—though that does not dismiss the need for subfloor preparations, as the floor can still fail with more imperfections! Higher wear layers perform better with heavier foot traffic, though usually that means the board will be thicker and will therefore need more subfloor preparations to make sure the margin for error is as minimized as possible. Residential homes can perform well with 12 mil wear layer, depending on the environment, but 20-22 mil is starting to become the standard, especially since the 20 mil floor can withstand high traffic commercial environments and proves to be a strong and reliable choice for homeowners.

WPC

Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) is a type of engineered LVP, where the core is typically manufactured with various vinyls and foaming agents, as well as wood materials such as wood flour. With the added benefit of wood components to the core of the floor, the overall feeling of the floor will be softer and more comfortable compared to other LVPs, such as Stone Plastic Composites (SPC). WPCs are also more flexible and can conform to small changes in the environment over time, unlike SPCs. However, compared to SPCs and even natural hardwood at times, WPCs are more likely to dent and show plank wear-and-tear.

X

XPS Pad

A type of foam underlayment that is attached directly to individual planks. Much like other LVP underlayments, the XPS pad enhances noise dampening qualities of the floor and moisture-resistance. XPS, unlike other underlayment options, provides greater insulation benefits, meaning temperature of the room will not flee through the floors. Heat will not be drawn to colder areas with an XPS underlayment.

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#

3-in-1 Trim Molding

A type of molding that can perform the same functions simultaneously of the three other molding types: T-molding, reducer, and an end cap. The moldings are versatile and can be easy to adapt to various situations as needed.

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Brook Smith